7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Paper Ballots Are a “Voting System”: Seventh Circuit Holds HAVA’s Accessibility Mandate Applies to Hand-Count Jurisdictions

Date: Jul 15, 2025

Paper Ballots Are a “Voting System”: Seventh Circuit Holds HAVA’s Accessibility Mandate Applies to Hand-Count Jurisdictions Case: United States v. Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin, No. 24-2931 (7th Cir....

Comparator Proof in Relative-Ranking Regimes: Seventh Circuit Holds Employer-Defined Assessment Groups Control Title VII Comparators and Bars Undisclosed Cross-Case Evidence

Date: Jul 15, 2025

Comparator Proof in Relative-Ranking Regimes: Seventh Circuit Holds Employer-Defined Assessment Groups Control Title VII Comparators and Bars Undisclosed Cross-Case Evidence Introduction In Kara...

“From Pattern to Episode” – The Seventh Circuit’s Landmark Re-definition of Title IX Liability in Isabelle Arana v. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin

Date: Jul 12, 2025

“From Pattern to Episode” – The Seventh Circuit’s Landmark Re-definition of Title IX Liability in Isabelle Arana v. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin 1. Introduction On 11 July 2025 the...

“From Galarza to Rahimzadeh” – Seventh Circuit Confirms that Commercial Auto Policies May Condition UIM Coverage on Occupancy

Date: Jul 12, 2025

“From Galarza to Rahimzadeh” – Seventh Circuit Confirms that Commercial Auto Policies May Condition UIM Coverage on Occupancy 1. Introduction The Seventh Circuit’s decision in Jason Rahimzadeh v. Ace...

United States v. Karagianis: The Seventh Circuit Clarifies that Omission of a § 3582(c)(2) Appeal-Waiver During a Rule 11 Colloquy Is Not Plain Error Absent a Showing of Prejudice

Date: Jul 12, 2025

United States v. Karagianis: The Seventh Circuit Clarifies that Omission of a § 3582(c)(2) Appeal-Waiver During a Rule 11 Colloquy Is Not Plain Error Absent a Showing of Prejudice 1. Introduction...

Braid v. Stilley: Interpleader Jurisdiction Meets Colorado River – Seventh Circuit Defines the Limits of Federal Intervention in S.B. 8 “Bounty Hunter” Actions

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Braid v. Stilley: Interpleader Jurisdiction Meets Colorado River – Seventh Circuit Defines the Limits of Federal Intervention in S.B. 8 “Bounty Hunter” Actions 1. Introduction In Alan Braid v. Oscar...

Personal Knowledge, Hearsay Barriers, and Prisoner Litigation: The Seventh Circuit’s Clarification in Taylor v. Buss on Deliberate Indifference and Retaliation Proof

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Personal Knowledge, Hearsay Barriers, and Prisoner Litigation: The Seventh Circuit’s Clarification in Taylor v. Buss on Deliberate Indifference and Retaliation Proof 1. Introduction In Brent Taylor...

Reaffirming the High Bar for “Class-of-One” Equal-Protection Claims in the Sex-Offender Registration Context: Flynt Lee v. Perez Stanford (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Reaffirming the High Bar for “Class-of-One” Equal-Protection Claims in the Sex-Offender Registration Context: Flynt J. Lee v. Perez Stanford, No. 24-2417 (7th Cir. July 10, 2025) 1. Introduction This...

Establishing Vacancy Through Rule 37 Sanctions: A Commentary on Ohio Security Insurance Co. v. Best Inn Midwest, LLC

Date: Jul 12, 2025

Establishing Vacancy Through Rule 37 Sanctions: A Commentary on Ohio Security Insurance Company v. Best Inn Midwest, LLC Introduction The Seventh Circuit’s decision in Ohio Security Insurance Company...

The Two-Track Stream-of-Commerce Doctrine: Seventh Circuit Separates “End-Product” and “Derivative-Product” Contacts for Specific Personal Jurisdiction

Date: Jul 11, 2025

The Two-Track Stream-of-Commerce Doctrine: Seventh Circuit Separates “End-Product” and “Derivative-Product” Contacts for Specific Personal Jurisdiction 1. Introduction Case: B.D. v. Samsung SDI Co.,...

Seventh Circuit Affirms that Short-Term Restrictive Measures Promptly Addressed by Prison Officials Do Not Constitute Deliberate Indifference under the Eighth Amendment

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Seventh Circuit Affirms that Short-Term Restrictive Measures Promptly Addressed by Prison Officials Do Not Constitute Deliberate Indifference under the Eighth Amendment Commentary on: David A....

“Any Form of Radiation” Means Any Form: Seventh Circuit Affirms Broad Plain-Meaning Approach to Insurance Exclusions

Date: Jul 11, 2025

“Any Form of Radiation” Means Any Form: Seventh Circuit Affirms Broad Plain-Meaning Approach to Insurance Exclusions Introduction In Hammond Power Solutions, Inc. v. National Union Fire Insurance...

Threshold Requirements for Substantive Due-Process Challenges to Post-Custody Property Policies

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Threshold Requirements for Substantive Due-Process Challenges to Post-Custody Property Policies Commentary on Ted Velleff v. Sheriff of Cook County, 7th Cir., No. 23-2785 (July 9 2025) Introduction...

“Memory-Loss Witnesses & the Confrontation Clause” — A Commentary on United States v. Derrick Swanson & Pierre Robinson

Date: Jul 11, 2025

“Memory-Loss Witnesses & the Confrontation Clause” Seventh Circuit Reaffirms Adequacy-of-Opportunity Standard in United States v. Derrick Swanson & Pierre Robinson 1. Introduction On 9 July 2025 the...

United States v. Robinson: Genuine Memory Loss Does Not Bar Admission of Prior Testimonial Statements When Cross-Examination Is Possible

Date: Jul 11, 2025

United States v. Robinson: Genuine Memory Loss Does Not Bar Admission of Prior Testimonial Statements When Cross-Examination Is Possible Introduction This commentary analyses the Seventh Circuit’s...

“Inadequate-Service” as a Statutory Pre-Condition for STB-Ordered Reciprocal Switching: A Commentary on Grand Trunk Corporation v. Surface Transportation Board (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 11, 2025

“Inadequate-Service” as a Statutory Pre-Condition for STB-Ordered Reciprocal Switching: Commentary on Grand Trunk Corporation v. Surface Transportation Board, No. 24-1811 (7th Cir. 2025) 1....

Reasserting the “Liberal Amendment” Principle Post-Judgment: Seventh Circuit’s Clarification in Reilly v. Will County Sheriff’s Office

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Reasserting the “Liberal Amendment” Principle Post-Judgment: Seventh Circuit’s Clarification in Reilly v. Will County Sheriff’s Office Introduction In James Reilly v. Will County Sheriff’s Office &...

Johnson v. Amazon: Certification of PPA Exclusions under Illinois Minimum Wage Law

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Johnson v. Amazon: Seventh Circuit Certifies Whether Illinois Minimum Wage Law Excludes Preliminary and Postliminary Activities Introduction In Lisa Johnson & Gale Miller Anderson v. Amazon.com...

“The Adaptive Accommodation Doctrine” – Seventh Circuit Clarifies Employers’ Right to Alter Disability Accommodations When Circumstances Materially Change

Date: Jul 8, 2025

“The Adaptive Accommodation Doctrine” – Seventh Circuit Clarifies Employers’ Right to Alter Disability Accommodations When Circumstances Materially Change Introduction In David P. Bourke v. Douglas...

Misclassification of ACCA Predicates Does Not Trigger the Actual-Innocence Gateway: Seventh Circuit Tightens §2255 Time-Bar Rules and Requires Hearings on Equitable Tolling

Date: Jul 8, 2025

Misclassification of ACCA Predicates Does Not Trigger the Actual-Innocence Gateway: Seventh Circuit Tightens § 2255 Time-Bar Rules and Requires Hearings on Equitable Tolling Introduction Michael...